Bubba’s Car Wash is now open in Citrus Heights on Greenback Lane.
A new Citrus Heights car wash opened up last week on Greenback Lane near San Juan Avenue, featuring a three-minute “express tunnel” and a water recycling system to limit water waste.
According to Bubba’s Car Wash Manager Tom Tilford, the new “flex serve” facility focuses on offering a quick wash along with some full-service options like hand drying and vacuuming — and potential for more services down the road as well.
From original story on Apr. 15, 2015: The new 1.29-acre lot on Greenback Lane offers a bit more room than currently available on Bubba’s smaller Madison Avenue location, according to Tilford, who added that the Citrus Heights spot will offer nearly double the number of vacuuming stalls.
Although a quick Google search pulls up a number of existing car washes in Citrus Heights, Tilford said he only knows of two competitors nearby that offer the quick “express” service Bubba’s focuses on — mentioning Quick Quack Car Wash a little over a mile away on Greenback, and Bauer’s on San Juan Avenue.
But the nearby competitors didn’t seem to concern Tilford. He said the new Citrus Heights location was chosen due to the area’s high traffic and nearby apartments, which he said don’t have a convenient spot to wash vehicles.
The car wash manager also said the new location will be “top notch” when it comes to saving water, with City Development Specialist Devon Rodriguez confirming the new Bubba’s will utilize a water reclamation system, along with being required to comply with the City’s water-efficient landscaping requirements.
In light of California’s current drought, commercial car washes like Bubba’s and others have sought to defend themselves from accusations of water waste.
Locally, a banner popped up on Antelope Road outside the self-serve Citrus Heights Car Wash claiming their high-pressure hoses use only three gallons per minute, while a low-pressure hose at home uses 15 gallons in the same time.
Asked whether these numbers were accurate, Citrus Heights Water District Assistant General Manager Dave Kane cited data from Washington State University confirming the home use consumption numbers for an average free-flowing hose — although he said using a bucket and spray nozzle would drop that number down.
Kane also didn’t argue with the three gallon per minute claim, adding that the local water district hasn’t observed any problems with water waste at area car washes.
[follow text=”Get local news:”]
Half Price Books plans to open its first Sacramento-region location this summer in Citrus Heights.
Updated Apr. 3, 7:50 a.m.—
Citrus Heights will be getting a new bookstore on Greenback Lane this summer, with Half Price Books planning to open its first Sacramento-region store in the Citrus Town Center.
“We’ve long heard from our customers and fans there was a need for a Half Price Books in the Sacramento area,” said the company’s California District Manager Matt Dalton in an email interview with The Sentinel this week. His comments were also reflected by Citrus Heights Mayor Sue Frost, who said she expects the bookstore to be a popular spot in a city that “loves to read.”
With its first store opening in 1972, the new-and-used bookstore brand has expanded locations to 16 states, promising almost everything at “half the publisher’s price or less,” according to the company’s website.
Despite the bankruptcy of bookstores like Borders in the digital age, Half Price Books is bucking the trend and opening new stores in Texas and Ohio this year as well, according to Dalton.
“Because of our selection and prices, we’ve been able to remain profitable in the digital age,” said Dalton, answering the “is-print-dead” question asked by some in today’s iPad and Nook generation. He said along with new bestsellers, Half Price Books carries “thousands of titles not found in digital formats, out-of-print items, and one-of-a-kinds.”
Although currently empty inside, the 7975 Greenback Lane location already advertises the anticipated summer opening, along with window signs announcing a $500 “Win Books For a Year” promotion. According to company spokesperson Emily Bruce, the gift card giveaway was launched in celebration of the new Citrus Heights store.
The new 8,268 square feet store will be the bookstore chain’s fifth location in California, with the closest stores being in Berkeley and Concord, according to a list posted on the company’s website.
Dalton said his team is currently collecting books for the store’s inventory, with the bulk of construction set to begin when the company takes possession of the property in mid-May.
An artistic rendering of the new $22 million Citrus Heights city hall, to be located just North of the Post Office. // Courtesy, Capital Partners Development Co.
Updated Mar. 27, 2:26 p.m. —
Citrus Heights council members voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a long-debated $53 million proposal to tear down and relocate the City’s existing hall and replace it with a three-story medical office building (MOB) — rejecting a proposal and lawsuit threat by a resident group proposing a less-imposing two-story design.
“Mr. Hill, I’m sorry that you feel the way you feel,” Councilman Jeff Slowey told Norman Hill, who heads the resident group Preserve Our Civic Center. “But threats, they don’t bother me in the least bit. If you wanna go to court I say bring it on — but bring your checkbook.”
Hill, a retired environmental attorney, has promised litigation in the past and reiterated his “compromise” offer Thursday night, which seeks to lessen the environmental and visibility impacts of the proposed medical building by increasing the setback away from Greenback, and lowering the height. He said by adopting his proposal, the City could avoid litigation and still get a new hall and two-story medical building.
“I recommend that you take a hard look at this proposal, or we will meet again to discuss it at a settlement conference in a CEQA lawsuit,” Hill told council members prior to the vote, referencing requirements in the California Environmental Quality Act he says the City hasn’t met.
City staff and council members believe the City has followed CEQA requirements, with environmental consultant Katherine Waugh addressing findings covered in a several-hundred page Environmental Impact Report on the project. Waugh told council members the report found “no significant effects” to the environment on either of the building projects – as long as a list of mitigation measures are followed.
Hill’s proposal was given significant discussion during the three-and-a-half-hour hearing Thursday night, but City staff said it wouldn’t work for parking, due to the larger footprint being required to maintain the building’s square footage with a two-story design. Legally, the City requires one parking spot per 225 square feet, and staff said that doesn’t allow for enough parking with Hill’s proposal.
Hill said the City could gain extra parking needed by utilizing its new Green Parking Lot and modifying the police department parking area, although Police Chief Christopher Boyd told the council such an arrangement would not be “workable” or safe for his department’s need for secured parking.
Although about half-a-dozen residents spoke out against the project during the hearing, Councilman Steve Miller said public comment has “flipped” from being 9-out-of-10 opposed to the project, after the City switched its focus away from a smaller hall location on Antelope Road last year.
Lead opponent Tim Schaefer commented in past meetings that the new 10.9-acre Stock Property is “a super-positive development” for the hall proposal, and others have commented favorably that the new location would keep City services in close proximity off Fountain Square Drive. The Stock Property is located just a half-block away from the existing hall, and staff say it’s large enough to allow for a utility yard and future expansion.
Concerns about increased traffic, a shrinking $26 million City reserve, and construction noise have continued to be raised by opponents, while supporters have billed the project as good for jobs and a cost-efficient way to replace an aging hall without incurring debt. The project was supported Thursday night by representatives from the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce and the Sunrise Marketplace business improvement district.
“I think the time is right, the price is right,” said Councilman Miller prior to casting his vote in favor of the proposal, adding that it’s still an “emotional” decision for him. “I imagine if we bring this place down I’ll shed a few tears, but this is an opportunity for growth for our city and renewal.”
Miller acknowledged the new three-story medical building would make for a “stark” transition from Greenback Lane’s residential zone into its commercial zone, but said “I think this is just too good of a deal to pass up.”
That deal was described by Monica Alejandrez, assistant to the city manager, as “an extremely rare opportunity” for the City, resulting in a “direct investment” of $53 million into Citrus Heights. She said the hall is estimated to cost “no more than $22 million,” with Dignity Health’s new medical building costing about $31 million.
Under the terms of the deal approved Thursday, Alejandrez said the net impact of the new hall to the City’s general fund will only be about $8.9 million after 15 years, largely due to $6.9 million in lease payments coming from the medical building, as well as projected energy savings from a new, more efficient facility.
That $6.9 million lease payment from Dignity Health, as well as the promise of 170 new medical-related jobs, has been a significant consideration factor since the deal began being discussed in 2013.
“When you can get more than a fourth of [the new hall] paid for, I think that’s a good deal,” said Councilman Slowey during the meeting. He added that the new hall wouldn’t be under consideration at this point without the Dignity Health lease offer being made on the City’s property. Staff said the assessed value of the existing hall has dropped from a high of over $5 million, to a most recent low point of under $2 million in 2014.
Council members acknowledged both pros and cons to the project, but Mayor Sue Frost said she “doesn’t see how the negatives even stack up” in comparison.
“I think the positives way outweigh the negatives for our City to bring Dignity [Health] to Citrus Heights,” said Frost, although acknowledging that feedback from residents has helped improve the project’s design and location.
“I do want to thank all of our residents who have engaged in the public process,” said Frost, referencing comments received since discussion began about the project more than a year ago. “Without you it wouldn’t have the face that it has, and it wouldn’t be as good as it is.”
Following Thursday’s vote, Frost said leases will be executed and City staff will begin searching for a temporary location, with demolition and construction work beginning as early as this summer.
Lights were off, shelves were empty and phone rang unanswered this week, as the RadioShack on Greenback Lane officially closed its doors for the final time — the result of bankruptcy terms the corporation filed in court February 5.
Signs announcing the store’s imminent closure were seen on the Citrus Heights RadioShack’s windows several days before doors were finally shut.
Prior to closing, the Citrus Heights location had been operating as a limited-stock “clearance center” since January 3, with signs advertising 25 to 50 percent off on items. After the corporation’s bankruptcy filings earlier this month, those signs were replaced with deeper discounts and a “last days” countdown on the front window.
The Citrus Heights RadioShack store had been open since 1978, according to the store manager.
Future use of the 7405 Greenback Lane location is unknown, although the company’s largest shareholder, Standard General, has announced plans to purchase about half of RadioShack’s 4,000 company-owned stores and turn them into store-within-a-store Sprint locations.
Monica Alejandrez, assistant to the city manager, said the City had not been notified of “any intentions of turning that location into a Sprint store,” and noted a “sizeable” Sprint store already located across the street in the Safeway complex.
Nearby Orchard Supply Hardware also suffered the same fate as RadioShack, with it’s large lot at Greenback Lane and San Juan Avenue to be taken up by Crunch gym and a 99 Cents Only store later this year.
Tavi, a female cat currently up for adoption. Courtesy Petfinder, River City Cat Rescue
A local cat rescue organization is working to find suitable homes for felines through its “Adopt a City Kitty” events held each weekend at the Citrus Heights Petco on Greenback Lane.
“Meet your purrfect best friend ANY Saturday or Sunday,” reads a flier advertising Sacramento’s River City Cat Rescue adoption events, encouraging adoption of locally rescued cats.
Photos and descriptions of available cats are viewable online, and the cat rescue organization’s website says all its felines are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, FeLV/FIV tested, de-wormed, microchipped and treated for fleas.
Those interested in adopting are requested to take a short questionnaire, designed to help the group find a “purrfect” match and a suitable home for each cat.
The Sacramento-based cat rescue’s mission is to educate, facilitate and advocate for non-lethal methods of reducing feral cat populations and help provide animals in peril with veterinary and foster care until adoption.
Although scheduled indefinitely for each Saturday and Sunday, the group says events may be cancelled at any time and recommends calling Petco at (916) 725-2556 during regular weekend adoption hours to ensure the event is still taking place.
— Adopt a City Kitty (Click here for flier)
Every Saturday & Sunday
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Petco, 6067 Greenback Ln.
Citrus Heights, CA
Citrus Heights police said this morning that a four-car accident Thursday night was caused by a female suspect who fled the scene after running a red light and ramming another vehicle in the intersection of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard.
“Initial reports are that the driver of [a] Cadillac ran a red light and broadsided another vehicle,” said Citrus Heights Police Department Sergeant Bryan Fritsch, who indicated the suspect was driving at a “high rate of speed” on Greenback Lane and fled the scene on foot afterwards. He said the suspect had been identified as a woman in her thirties, but added, “the status of her arrest is unknown at this time.”
The collision occurred just after 8 p.m. Thursday, partially blocking traffic at the intersection as about a dozen officers responded to the scene and diverted Sunrise Boulevard traffic to Greenback Lane.
The driver of the broadsided Hyundai was taken to a local hospital with unknown injuries, while drivers of the two other vehicles involved were uninjured, according to police.
All details have not been released yet, as police say the investigation is still underway. The incident is likely to have been caught on the intersection’s red light cameras, which take video of activity occurring after a light turns red.
Updated Nov. 8, 7:59 a.m.–
A collision involving at least four cars at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane blocked several lanes of traffic Thursday night, as about a dozen officers responded to the scene.
“Citrus Heights has a road closure due to a collision,” Senior Dispatcher Tina Mack with the Citrus Heights Police Department said in an email alert to media around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. “All southbound Sunrise Boulevard lanes are closed at Greenback Lane. Traffic is diverted to eastbound and westbound Greenback Lane.”
By 10 p.m. all lanes had been re-opened.
Police did not return a phone call requesting comment Friday morning. Reports of injuries and the cause of collision are unknown at this time.
A man backed his Volvo into the font of Safeway on Greenback Lane, causing damage to the frontage, Saturday. //CH Sentinel
Citrus Heights’ Safeway received an unwanted cosmetic adjustment over the weekend when a driver rammed his older-model Volvo into the front of the building, damaging a large pillar and part of the front wall.
According to employees, the crash resulted in a “ton of smoke,” accompanied by the smell of burning rubber in the store, which lingered for several hours afterwards.
A witness said the incident occurred when an “elderly gentleman” began backing up from his parking spot, but continued in reverse past an oncoming car — ripping the front bumper off the other vehicle — and then crashing through the side of a column before finally coming to a halt just outside Safeway’s entry doors, narrowly missing a family.
“I was scared,” a Safeway employee was overheard saying afterwards. “All I heard was a crash, and then saw a bunch of smoke.”
Although causing quite a scene for shoppers, reports indicate that no one was hurt in the incident and that the building did not suffer any structural damage.
The driver who had her front bumper ripped off by the runaway Volvo called the event an “accident,” and wasn’t upset with the driver for hitting her car, believing he had likely mixed up the gas and brake pedals.
Updated Oct. 17, 4:02 p.m. –
Highlighting an industry-appropriate deviation from the usual “ribbon-cutting” ceremony, HD Supply Home Improvement Solutions celebrated the grand opening of their 46,000 square feet store in Citrus Heights with an official plywood “board-cutting” just outside the front doors on Greenback Lane, Friday.
Employees and company leaders join for an official “board-cutting” as HD Supply opens in Citrus Heights
“We’re really happy to be in the Citrus Heights community,” said HD District Manager David Lewis, who attended Friday’s grand opening event and said the company prioritizes involvement in the community.
Noting the store’s “cutting-edge technology,” Lewis said their Citrus Heights location is the first to feature QR codes on every product, which can be scanned with a smartphone to provide product information and a video presentation about the item’s features and benefits. The main entry also has a touchscreen kiosk where customers can type in what they’re looking for, and be shown a list of corresponding items and a map of where the item is located in the store.
“It’s pretty nice technology,” said customer Dana Payne of Orangevale, who was being shown the kiosk by Nicole True with HD Supply. “This will really help drastically in the future to find my way around.”
Nicole True with HD Supply shows customer Dana Payne a product video on the store’s touchscreen kiosk.
Although about 40 employees were hired initially to get the store open, 19 employees will operate the new location — three of whom live in Citrus Heights, according to Marketing Director Cate Solomon.
HD Supply Home Improvement Solutions is the home improvement division of HD Supply, which operates around 650 locations in North America.
The new store is located at 7999 Greenback Lane, across from the Sunrise Mall. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An inflatable big-screen projector will be set up behind Dress Barn in Citrus Heights Saturday night, as the Citrus Town Center hosts a showing of “The Nut Job” cartoon — the final film to be shown during its summer “Outdoor Movie Series” this year.
Theatrical release poster.
“Bring the family and enjoy a Citrus Heights night under the stars,” reads a flier for the event, which also highlights free popcorn, raffle prizes and music will be supplied at the family-friendly event.
The PG-rated film features the voices of Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson and Katherine Heigal, and opened in January of this year, enjoying a moderate turn-out by audiences around the country before being released on video several months ago.
The final of five outdoor films shown this year, the 85-minute movie is scheduled to begin around 8:20 p.m., depending on when it gets dark, but organizers say people usually start arriving around 7:30 p.m. to enjoy some “pre-movie entertainment” and save a seat.
Although plastic chairs will be provided, organizers welcome attendees to bring their own chairs, small coolers and drinks — as long as there’s no glass or alcohol. They also recommend bringing a blanket if planning to sit on the ground, as the venue is on cement.
The “Outdoor Movie Series” is one of many activities the Citrus Town Center sponsors throughout the year, as part of its goal to foster a “community feel” for the neighborhood shopping center. In 2012, the former “Sunrise Festival Shopping Center” finalized its nearly $4 million remodel, featuring new landscaping, store frontages, outdoor seating areas, and a prominently displayed new name at the corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Avenue.
—-
If you plan to go:
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014
Time: Approx. 8:20 p.m., or when dark.
Location:
Citrus Town Center, behind Dress Barn
7925 Greenback Ln., Citrus Heights.
